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Seton Circle turns 100
SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON
A brief look
About 70 Catholic women representing three Seton organizations gathered for a recent brunch at St. Charles Church in Boardman to honor Seton, who was born Elizabeth Ann Bayley in 1774 in New York City. The women also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the original Seton Circle organization, founded in 1914. Some facts about Seton:
In 1794, she married William M. Seton, the son of a wealthy shipping merchant, and the couple had five children.
Within eight years, however, the shipping business failed, and her husband’s health declined. He died in 1803 after the couple and their eldest child had gone to Italy to try to restore him to health. Compounding the tragedies were the loss of her father from yellow fever, as well as the deaths of two daughters and two sisters-in-law.
After William’s death, Elizabeth lived with a wealthy Italian family who introduced her to Catholicism.
Upon returning to New York, Seton alienated many friends and family members because of her conversion.
She suffered hardships for several years before opening a school June 9, 1808, in Baltimore. The effort was successful and led to her starting the nation’s first parochial school system and founding the Sisters of Charity. Seton and her Sisters also started a school for girls in Emmitsburg, Md.
In 1817, Seton sent three Sisters of Charity to New York to the Roman Catholic Asylum. The Sisters of Charity continue to work in the city.
On Sept. 14, 1975, Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized in Rome, making her the first native-born woman saint.
Source: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton organizations
By Sean Barron
BOARDMAN
When 93-year-old Ruth Eich joined a cherished Catholic women’s organization in 1946, the group spent most of its time reviewing literature and books.
But it wasn’t long before the women began reviewing ways to broaden their reach.
“Later, we did charity work,” Eich recalled. “Many members raised children, and we had bake sales and card parties to raise money.”
Eich is a charter member of the Junior Seton organization, which the daughters and friends of Seton Circle founded in 1939. It also is one of five such clubs named in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded the country’s parochial school system and was the first native-born female American saint.
The original group, Seton Circle, was founded in 1914. In addition, Seton III was established in 1958, Seton IV in 1981 and the Junior Seton Circle in 2002.
Eich spoke about her experiences and recollections during a recent brunch and social gathering at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church on Westview Drive, which brought together members of four of the five Seton clubs.
An estimated 70 women in the Junior Seton, Seton III, Seton IV and Junior Seton Circle organizations attended the event, which Seton III hosted, and was to celebrate Seton Circle’s 100th anniversary. In addition, attendees honored 96-year-old Mary Sennett, the only other living 1939 club member.
Also remembered were those who were ill or are deceased.
Eich explained that her organization’s social-service committee performed charity efforts that including giving money to those in need during the Christmas holiday and giving school clothing to children. Today’s committees have similar purposes, but also bring in entertainment and speakers on various topics, she continued.
Also at the gathering were seven Seton III members, including Mary Lou Beck, the group’s first president. The others were 2014-15 officers Mary Loftus West, Caroline Gustafson, Joyce Petrunia, Mary Ann Itts and Claranne McCloud.
The original Seton organization also started as a book club before becoming more religious and voluntary in its scope, Beck noted.
“We are a very religious group that gives to the needy,” she said of her group. “We feed families at Thanksgiving and Christmastime and have volunteered at different nursing homes.”
Beck added that her mother was in the Junior Seton club and that other relatives joined to keep it going.
Each year, the groups celebrate Mass before starting their annual meeting. They meet on the Sunday closest to Sept. 14, which is significant because St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized Sept. 14, 1975, in Rome, Beck noted.